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Social Work, Social Welfare, and American Society
Helps readers understand and analyze social work and social welfare within the context of modern political systems
Taking a critical-thinking approach, Social Work, Social Welfare, and American Society describes and analyzes social work and social welfare within the framework of American political belief systems to help students put social work practice into context.
The thoroughly updated 9th Edition features an increased focus on social work practice throughout the text and in two new chapters (Chs. 1 and 5) while continuing to examine the most up-to-date issues in the politics of social welfare. The 9th Edition adds discussions of the progressive and radical perspective on social welfare in addition to liberal and conservative positions. It also features new discussions on a wide range of issues that include intersectionality, poverty and inequality, restorative justice, and the opioid epidemic.
Taking a critical-thinking approach, Social Work, Social Welfare, and American Society describes and analyzes social work and social welfare within the framework of American political belief systems to help students put social work practice into context.
The thoroughly updated 9th Edition features an increased focus on social work practice throughout the text and in two new chapters (Chs. 1 and 5) while continuing to examine the most up-to-date issues in the politics of social welfare. The 9th Edition adds discussions of the progressive and radical perspective on social welfare in addition to liberal and conservative positions. It also features new discussions on a wide range of issues that include intersectionality, poverty and inequality, restorative justice, and the opioid epidemic.
608 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 8, 2025
This book was assigned as a required textbook for my Master of Social Work coureswork (Social Welfare Policy & Services).
I really enjoyed reading this textbook and I thought that it gave an interesting perspective on the history of social welfare in America and how it is impacted by the political beliefs that are common at the time. This book made me consider why we have the social welfare policies we do today and why they have been designed the way they are. Sometimes, as a social worker, it seems like the deficits in social welfare programs are extremely clear. By learning about their history, it is easier to understand why some of those deficits exist, as well as what a potential path past those deficits could be.
This text describes itself as trying to provide an unbiased view of social welfare. Each chapter ends with a discussion of the (traditional) conservative, liberal, and progressive perspectives surrounding each welfare issue. However, it was clear while reading that the author held some disdain for the conservative viewpoints. Because of this, the book isn't quite unbiased. In addition, the author distinguishes traditional conservatives and Tea Party/alt-right conservatives. I would have appreciated a discussion of the alt-right perspective of each welfare issue in addition to the traditional conservative perspective, because the alt-right perspective is more common.
I really enjoyed reading this textbook and I thought that it gave an interesting perspective on the history of social welfare in America and how it is impacted by the political beliefs that are common at the time. This book made me consider why we have the social welfare policies we do today and why they have been designed the way they are. Sometimes, as a social worker, it seems like the deficits in social welfare programs are extremely clear. By learning about their history, it is easier to understand why some of those deficits exist, as well as what a potential path past those deficits could be.
This text describes itself as trying to provide an unbiased view of social welfare. Each chapter ends with a discussion of the (traditional) conservative, liberal, and progressive perspectives surrounding each welfare issue. However, it was clear while reading that the author held some disdain for the conservative viewpoints. Because of this, the book isn't quite unbiased. In addition, the author distinguishes traditional conservatives and Tea Party/alt-right conservatives. I would have appreciated a discussion of the alt-right perspective of each welfare issue in addition to the traditional conservative perspective, because the alt-right perspective is more common.
January 15, 2021
Interesting take on different political views and how those have shaped social work today.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews